Retaining device



Patented Aug. 4, 1931 UNH-eo .STATES PATENT DQNALD n rowlrsaiin NEW'XORK, ASSIGNQRTQ 'Srirlneron co'MPANr, or Nrw rolia, A coePoaArIoN MARYLAND i BETAINING Y nrivroie Application filed october 25, 192e. serial 110,144,093.

This invention relates to retaining devices' and, more especially, to such devices adapted for connection with draft keys to prevent undesired removal thereof.

The principal object of my invention, generally considered, is the provision of an 1 mproved key retainer adapted for application to one or both ends of draft keys forpreventing undesired removal or loss thereof.

An obj ect of my invention is the provision of a draft key retainer comprising a looped member fitting over or encircling an end of an associated `draft key, the upper and lower portions of said retainer being provided with apertures registering with a corresponding aperture in the associated key for receivingl a connecting pin, said looped member beingy ,provided with means thereon for holding said pin .in the desired position. -1 L A Y Another ob'ect of my'invention is the. prof vision of a retainer adaptedfor being econom-A ically manufactured by x casting, if desired7 and formed of suchfa size as to encircle' or it around an end of a draft rigging key, said,v

retainer preferably being formed angular or U shape in cross section and provided at its lower portion with a pin receiving pocket and at its upper portion with a registeringv pinreceiving aperture, said retainer'being posi- 4tioned on an end ofan associated key so that the pocket and aperture therein register with a corresponding perforation in the key, said retainer beingthen retained in place on the key by inserting a preferably headless'pin` through the aperture in the retainer and key into the pocket inthe retainer, said pin being afterwards prevented from lossfor undesired removal by inserting cotter means or the like through upward extensions on the retainer above the upper end of the pin.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a retainer adapted to encircle 'the end of an associated draft key and be connected thereto by means of a singlepin or the like, whereby angling of said retainer with respect to the key is permitted, said retainer being preferably formed convex on its inner surface adj acent the edges of the key whereby angling between key and retainer is facili-V 50 tated, the connecting means between the retainer and key being received at its lower end in' a; pocket in theretainer, which pocket is. preferably formed ,in a lower wall thereof with a relatively small aperture for, receive ing a tool adapted to remove said pin when desired.Y i f Qther objects and advantages of the invention relating to the particular arrangement and combination of the various parts will become apparent. as the description proceeds. Referring Vto the drawings illustrating-my invention, the scope whereof is defined by the' appended claims: .A

Figure l is a side elevation of'draft rigging and a portion of a car underframe to which the same is applied, particularly showing draft rigging keys with' retaining devices thereon embodying the principles ofmy inf vention; i f 1 Figure 2. is a plan showing'fragmentary portions of a draftkey with a retaining 4de-` vice embodying my invention applied thereing diagrammatically illustrated.

Figure 3 is a transversefsectional view on' the line of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows. l Y

Figure4 is a side elevational view of the device shown in Figure 2, the associated cheek plate being shown fragmentarily in section.

i Although my invention is adapted'for use with draft keys or the like,generally, and for other purposes, and may be used with various kinds of draft rigging, I have, for purposes of illustration, shown in Figure l my invention employed with draft rigging vof the Farev low two-key type. In said figure, a fragmentary portion of a car underframe is illustrated, draft or center sills'l being shown with cheek plates 2 applied on the outer sides of the webs 3 thereof in accordance with usual practice. Said cheek plates 2 may be connect'- ed to thesills by rivets or the like 4f and are preferably formed with flange portions 5 deining slots and 7'therethrougli registering' with corresponding slotted portions in the jas webs 3 of the sills'l. Through the slots'6 and 7 extend draft keys 8 and 9, respectively, and

said keys serve for connecting and supportingV an associated coupler 10, horizontal .yoke

11 and front follower 12. Cooperating with the front follower 12 and embraced between the arms of the yoke 11, the cushioning mechanism 18 is illustrated diagrammatically by dot and dash lines.

The keys 8 and 9 may each comprise, if desired, a pointed or tapered end 14 and a head 15 on the opposite end thereof. Alternatively, said keys or one of them may be pointed or tapered at each end, if desired. The pointed or headless end or ends 14 of the key 8 or 9, or both, is formed with a perforation or aperture 16 therethrough preferably positioned at the usual distance from the end of the key for application of a key retainer. A preferred embodiment of my improved form of key retainer comprises a member 17 preferably formed as an elongated loop adapted to lit over or encircle the end of the associated key as illustrated in the drawings. Said looped member 17 may conveniently be formed by casting although I do not wish to be limited to such construction. It is desirably formed angular or U shape in cross section, that is, a web portion 18 encircles the key and, in the present embodiment, has a pair of flanges 19 extending outwardly therefrom to provide ample bearing surface for contact with the associated sill or cheek plate thereon.

The lower portion or section of the looped member 17 is preferably extended downwardly as indicated at 20 to provide a pocket 21 for receiving the lower end of a connecting member or pin 22. Said pocket isvpreferably partially closed by the lower wall 23 ofthe extension 20, forming a supporting step for the lpin 22, said wall 23, however, being preferably provided witha relatively small aperture 24 for receiving a piece of Wire or tool for pushing the pin 22 upwardly when itis desired to remove the same. The upper portion of the loop 17 is likewise provided with an extension 25 in the form of a boss or circular flange bordering an aperture 26 registering with the pocket 21. The extension or collar 25 is preferably formed with registering apertures 27 adapted to receive cotter means such as a piece of wire or the like 28 inserted and bent, as indicated in Figure 3, to maintain the same in place above the top of the headless pin 22 to pre vent undesired loss or removal thereof.

It will be apparent that, after the retaining loop 27 has been applied over the end of the key 8 or 9, the headless pin 22 inserted through the registering apertures 26 and 16 and into the pocket 21, the Cotter means 28 will then be positioned above the top of the pin 22 which will thereby be retained in position and prevented from loss or undesired removal. When so assembled. a limited amount of angling between the retainer and key is permitted, said angling being facilitated and mutilation of the key being minimized by forming the inner surface of the loop adjacent the edges of the key convex as indicated at 29. It will be apparent that the pin 22, not only is easily inserted in place but may be readily removed by the provision of the aperture` 24 through which a nail, a piece of wire or other tool may be inserted to push the key to a height where it may be manually grasped and removed after first straightening one end of the locking means 28 and removing the same. Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. A retainer adapted for use with draft keys comprising a looped member fitting over an end of a key, said looped member being formed substantially U shape in cross section for increasing the rigidity thereof and provided with a pocket in the lower section and an aperture in the upper section of said member for receiving a pin to connect said member with the draft key, a headless pin insertable through said aperture and held at its lower end in said pocket, said aperture being bounded by an upstandingY collar and means extending through perforations in said collar and above said pin for preventing loss thereof.

2. A retainer adapted for use withdraft keys comprisinga continuous loop fitting over an end of a key, said loop being angular in cross section throughout for increasing the rigidity Vthereof and formed with a ypocket in the lower portion and an aperture in the upper portion of said loop, a headless pin inserted through said aperture, a corresponding aperture in an associated draft key and held at its lower end in said pocket, said pocket being formed with a relatively small opening in Aits lower wall for receiving a tool to force the pin out of said pocket when it is desired to disconnect the retainer from the key, and an upstanding apertured collar framing the aperture in the upper portion of the loop for receiving pin retaining means.

3. A retainer adapted for use with draft keys comprising a member formed as a continuous loop normally fitting over an end of an associated draft key, said member being formed substantially U shape in cross section for increasing the strength thereof and provided with a pocket in its lower section and an aperture in its upper section for receiving a connecting member, a headless pin inserted through said aperture and held at its lower end in said pocket,isaid aperture being bounded by an upstanding flange and means extending through perforations in said flange above said pin for preventing loss thereof, the lower wall of said pocket being formed with a relatively small aperture for receiving aI tool adapted to remove said pin when it is desired todisconnect'the retainer from the key.

- 4. A retainer adapted for use with draft keys comprising a looped member, capable of fitting over an end of a key, having portlons extending respectively above and below said key provided with apertures adapted to register with a corresponding aperture near the end of said key, a single pin adapted to extend through all of said apertures to hold said retainer in place on the key, the inner surface of said retainer adjacent the edges of the key being convexly curved to permit a greater degree of angling with respect to said key, and means for holding said pin in place with respect to said retainer. v

5. A retainer adapted for use with draft keys comprising a cast member formed as an elongated continuous loop fitting overan end of a key, said loop being formed substantially U shape in cross section for increasing the rigidity thereof, the lower section of sai loop being formed with a pocket and the upper section provided with an aperture registering with said pocket, a headless pin insertable through said aperture and a corresponding aperture in an associated key, and held with its lower end in said pocket, said aperture being surrounded at its upper end by an upstanding flange provided with registering perforations, and locking means insertable through said perforations and above said pin for preventing loss thereof.

6. In railway draft rigging, in combination with draft sills, a key extending through slots in said sills for operatively connecting parts of the draft rigging and means for preventing undesired removal of said key, said means comprising a looped member ttin over an end of said key, those portions of sai member above and below said key being provided with registering apertures to cooperate with a corresponding aperture near an end of said key, the upper aperture being framed by an upstanding annular collar on said Y member, a pin for holding said retainer in place on the key and allowing angling of said retainer with respect to said key upon movement of the key in the draft sill slots, and means extending through said collar for preventing loss of said pin.

7. A retainer adapted for use with draft keyscomprising a member formed as a loo normally fitting over an end of an associate draft key, said member being generally channel-shaped in cross-section for increasing the strength thereof and provided with a pocket in the lower element of said loop, an aperture in the upper element thereof for receiving a connecting device, a pin substantially uniform in section throughout inserted through said aperture with its lower end received in said pocket, said aperture having an upstanding flange adjacent thereof, and means extending therethrough above said pin for preventing loss thereof; Y

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature. DONALD L. TOWNSEND. 

